Electronic equipment in wireless communication system and wireless communication method

ABSTRACT

An electronic equipment in a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method. The wireless communication system includes at least one first cell and at least one second cell, and at least one of the second cells is operating in an unlicensed band. The electronic equipment includes one or more processing circuits configured to perform: configuring for a user equipment at least one second cell operating in an unlicensed band to perform carrier aggregation communication; and generating, dynamically or semi-statically, energy detection threshold information for each second cell operating in the unlicensed band so that the user equipment can perform energy detection on the unlicensed band according to the energy detection threshold information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/743,049, filed Jan. 9, 2018, which is a National Stage Applicationbased on PCT/CN2015/090527, filed Sep. 24, 2015, and claims priority toCN 201510498448.5, filed Aug. 13, 2015, the entire contents of each areincorporated herein by its reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of wirelesscommunications, and in particular to an electronic device in a wirelesscommunication system and a wireless communication method in a wirelesscommunication system.

BACKGROUND

This part provides background information related to the presentdisclosure, which is not necessarily the conventional technology.

With the development and evolution of wireless networks, more and moreservices are carried by the wireless networks. In this case, additionalspectrum resources are required to support transmission of a largeamount of data. Cellular wireless network operators start discussing howto use unlicensed spectrum resources such as the industrial scientificmedical (ISM) frequency band of 5 GHz, while using the existing longterm evolution (LTE) networks. On the other hand, the WiFi wirelessindustry deploys more WiFi systems in the unlicensed spectrum.Communication systems of different operators have equal rights to usethe unlicensed frequency band. How to use the same unlicensed frequencyband fairly and effectively is urgent to be solved in the industry. Atpresent, a consensus reached in the industry is that the unlicensedfrequency band needs to be used with the assistance of the licensedfrequency band, and terminals are served through carrier aggregation.

For the coexistence of the two systems, in an existing method, differentspectrum usage time periods are allocated to two different systems, andthe two systems use the spectrum resources in a time division manner.LTE systems of different operators use the unlicensed frequency bandsimultaneously and perform spectrum usage backoff simultaneously, sothat the WiFi systems have chances to use the spectrum. In this case,cells using the unlicensed frequency band belong to different operatorsare required to be synchronized. In addition, in order to ensure thatthe LTE systems and the WiFi systems coexist and use the spectrumresources in a time division manner, in the conventional technology, theLTE systems transmit WiFi signals, in this way, the WiFi systems canstop transmission for a time period, so that the LTE systems can performtransmission, which results in a great change in existing standards andchips.

Therefore, a new wireless communication technology solution is necessaryto optimize use of an unlicensed spectrum without significantly changingthe existing standards and chips.

SUMMARY

This part provides an overview of the present disclosure, rather than afull scope or all features of the present disclosure.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic devicein a wireless communication system and a wireless communication methodin a wireless communication system, to optimize use of an unlicensedspectrum with a reasonably-designed dynamic adjustment mechanism for anenergy detection threshold without significantly changing the existingstandards and chips.

An electronic device in a wireless communication system is provided inan aspect of the present disclosure, the wireless communication systemincludes at least one first cell and one or more second cells, and atleast one of the one or more second cells operates in an unlicensedfrequency band. The electronic device includes: at least one processingcircuits configured to: configure the at least one second cell operatingin the unlicensed frequency band for a user equipment, for carrieraggregation communication; and generate dynamically or semi-staticallyenergy detection threshold information for each of the second celloperating in the unlicensed frequency band so that the user equipmentperforms energy detection on the unlicensed frequency band based on theenergy detection threshold information.

A user equipment in a wireless communication system is provided inanother aspect of the present disclosure, the wireless communicationsystem includes at least one first cell and one or more second cells,and at least one of the one or more second cells operates in anunlicensed frequency band. The user equipment includes: a transceiverconfigured to receive configuration information on the at least onesecond cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band for carrieraggregation, and to receive energy detection threshold information foreach of the second cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band; andat least one processing circuit configured to perform energy detectionon the unlicensed frequency band based on the energy detection thresholdinformation.

A base station in a wireless communication system is provided in anotheraspect of the present disclosure, where the base station manages a firstcell operating in a licensed frequency band and a second cell operatingin an unlicensed frequency band. The base station includes: at least oneprocessing circuit configured to: generate multiple energy detectionthresholds based on a network status and contain the multiple energydetection thresholds into first signaling; and generate, for the secondcell, an energy detection threshold indication for indicating one of themultiple energy detection thresholds so that the user equipment performsenergy detection on the unlicensed frequency band corresponding to thesecond cell based on the energy detection threshold indication; andcontaining the energy detection threshold indication into secondsignaling, where a transmission interval of the first signaling islonger than a transmission interval of the second signaling.

A user equipment in a wireless communication system is provided inanother aspect of the present disclosure, the wireless communicationsystem includes one first cell and one or more second cells, and atleast one of the one or more second cells operates in an unlicensedfrequency band. The user equipment includes: a transceiver; and at leastone processing circuit configured to: cause the transceiver to receivefirst signaling containing multiple energy detection thresholds from abase station serving the user equipment; cause the transceiver toreceive, from the base station, second signaling containing an energydetection threshold indication for indicating one of the multiple energydetection thresholds; and perform energy detection on the unlicensedfrequency band based on the energy detection threshold indication, wherea transmission interval of the first signaling is longer that atransmission interval of the second signaling.

A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system isprovided in another aspect of the present disclosure, the wirelesscommunication system includes at least one first cell and one or moresecond cells, and at least one of the one or more second cells operatesin an unlicensed frequency band. The wireless communication methodincludes: configuring, for a user equipment, the at least one secondcell operating in the unlicensed frequency band, for carrier aggregationcommunication; and generating dynamically or semi-statically energydetection threshold information for each of the second cell operating inthe unlicensed frequency band so that the user equipment performs energydetection on the unlicensed frequency band based on the energy detectionthreshold information.

A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system isprovided in another aspect of the present disclosure, the wirelesscommunication system includes at least one first cell and one or moresecond cells, and at least one of the second cells operates in anunlicensed frequency band. The wireless communication method includes:receiving configuration information on the at least one second celloperating in the unlicensed frequency band for carrier aggregation;receiving energy detection threshold information for each of the secondcell operating in the unlicensed frequency band; and performing energydetection on the unlicensed frequency band based on the energy detectionthreshold information.

A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system isprovided in another aspect of the present disclosure. A base station inthe wireless communication system manages a first cell operating in anunlicensed frequency band and a second cell operating in an unlicensedfrequency band. The wireless communication method includes: generatingmultiple energy detection thresholds based on a network status, andcontaining the multiple energy detection thresholds into firstsignaling; and generating, for the second cell, an energy detectionthreshold indication for indicating one of the multiple energy detectionthresholds so that a user equipment performs energy detection on theunlicensed frequency band corresponding to the second cell based on theenergy detection threshold indication, and containing the energydetection threshold indication into second signaling, where atransmission interval of the first signaling is longer than atransmission interval of the second signaling.

A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system isprovided in another aspect of the present disclosure, the wirelesscommunication system includes one first cell and one or more secondcells, and at least one of the one or more second cells operates in anunlicensed frequency band. The wireless communication method includes:receiving, from a base station serving a user equipment, first signalingcontaining multiple energy detection thresholds; receiving, from thebase station, a second signaling containing an energy detectionthreshold indication for indicating one of the multiple energy detectionthresholds; and performing energy detection on the unlicensed frequencyband based on the energy detection threshold indication, where atransmission interval of the first signaling is longer than atransmission interval of the second signaling.

With the electronic device in the wireless communication system and thewireless communication method in the wireless communication systemaccording to the present disclosure, energy detection thresholdinformation is generated dynamically or semi-statically for a secondcell operating in an unlicensed frequency band, a user equipmentperforms energy detection on the unlicensed frequency band based on theenergy detection threshold information varying dynamically orsemi-statically, and the user equipment may perform transmission usingthe second cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band in a casewhere energy of the unlicensed frequency band detected by the userequipment is less than an energy detection threshold, and the userequipment cannot perform transmission using the second cell operating inthe unlicensed frequency band in a case where energy of the unlicensedfrequency band detected by the user equipment is not less than an energydetection threshold, thereby optimizing use of an unlicensed spectrumwith the reasonably-designed dynamic adjustment mechanism for the energydetection threshold.

Further applicability range is apparent from the description providedherein. The description and specific examples in the overview are merelyfor the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the scopeof the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are provided merely for the purpose ofillustrating the selected embodiments rather than all possibleembodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of an electronic device ina wireless communication system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a format of a downlink controlinformation (DCI) format 1C designated for dynamically adjusting anenergy detection threshold;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing a MAC control unit for an energydetection threshold;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a mapping relationship between anenergy detection threshold indication and an energy detection threshold;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a fast adjustment method for anenergy detection threshold according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing a fast adjustment method for anenergy detection threshold according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a hidden node scenario in which afast adjustment method for an energy detection threshold according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may be applied;

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram showing applying a fast adjustment method foran energy detection threshold according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure in a hidden node scenario;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an access point scenario in whichan adjustment method for an energy detection threshold according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may be applied;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing adjusting an energy detectionthreshold on a base station side using an adjustment method for anenergy detection threshold according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a structure of a user equipment in awireless communication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing that a user equipment in awireless communication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure reports an energy detection report non-periodically;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing that a user equipment in awireless communication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure reports an energy detection report periodically;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a structure of a base station in awireless communication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a first schematic configurationexample of an evolution node base station (eNB) to which the presentdisclosure may be applied;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a second schematic configurationexample of an eNB to which the present disclosure may be applied;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example ofa smartphone to which the present disclosure may be applied; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example ofa car navigation apparatus to which the present disclosure may beapplied.

While specific embodiments of the present disclosure are shown asexamples in the drawings and are described here in detail, variousmodifications and variations may be made to the present disclosure. Itshould be understood that the description for the specific embodimentsherein is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the disclosedspecific forms, and the present disclosure is intended to encompass allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives that fall within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that referencenumerals indicate parts corresponding to the reference numeralsthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Examples of the present disclosure are described more fully withreference to the drawings. The following description is merely exemplaryrather than being intended to limit the present disclosure andapplications or purposes of the present disclosure.

Exemplary embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure beexhaustive and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to thoseskilled in the art. Various specific details such as specific parts,devices and methods are set forth to provide thorough understanding forthe embodiments of the present disclosure. It is apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments may be embodied inmany different forms without the specific details, and the specificdetails are not interpreted as a limit for the scope of the presentdisclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes,well-known structures and well-known technology are not described indetail.

A user equipment (UE) in the present disclosure includes but is notlimited to a terminal having a wireless communication function such as amobile terminal, a computer or an in-vehicle apparatus. Further,depending on a function described, the UE in the present disclosure mayalso be the UE itself or a component such as a chip in the UE.Similarly, a base station in the present disclosure may be, for example,an evolution node base station (eNB) or a component such as a chip inthe eNB.

The present disclosure relates to a licensed assisted access (LAA)-LongTerm Evolution (LTE) communication in a wireless communication network.In a case where multiple systems use a same unlicensed frequency band,coordination is required to allow the systems to have equal rights touse the unlicensed frequency band. The unlicensed frequency band hereinmay be, for example, a WiFi frequency band of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, or alicensed frequency band such as a television frequency band or a radarfrequency band for a non-cellular network. In order to realize thecoordination while reducing inter-system communication overhead, adynamic adjustment mechanism for an energy detection threshold of aterminal is provided in the present disclosure, and an adverse effectcaused by uncertainty of occupying the unlicensed frequency band can bereduced with the dynamic adjustment mechanism. For example, an LTEsystem may adjust dynamically the energy detection threshold based on aninterference status and a load status of an available unlicensedspectrum, and notify the user equipment, to effectively use theunlicensed frequency band and equally coexist with other communicationdevices using the unlicensed frequency band. In addition, multiplesolutions are provided in the present disclosure to dynamically notifyof the energy detection threshold. Coordination usage scenarios ofunlicensed frequency band resources in the present disclosure mayinclude, for example, coordination between different systems such asbetween an LTE system and a WiFi system and between an LTE system and abluetooth system, coordination between same systems across LTEoperators, and coordination among multiple communication devices servedby a same LTE operator.

FIG. 1 shows a structure of an electronic device 100 in a wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 may include a processingcircuit 110. It should be noted that the electronic device 100 mayinclude one processing circuit 110 or multiple processing circuits 110.The electronic device 100 may further include a communicating unit 120.The electronic device 100 is arranged on a network side in the wirelesscommunication system to serve the user equipment in the system.

Further, the processing circuit 110 may include various discretefunctional units to perform various different functions and/oroperations. It should be noted that the functional units may be physicalentities or logical entities, and units referred to as different namesmay be implemented as a same physical entity.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the processing circuit 110 may includea configuring unit 111 and a generating unit 112.

A wireless communication system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure includes at least one first cell and one or moresecond cells, and at least one of the second cells operates in anunlicensed frequency band. The first cell and the second cells aremanaged by the electronic device 100. The configuring unit 112configures the at least one second cell operating in the unlicensedfrequency band for a user equipment, for carrier aggregationcommunication.

According to an example of the present disclosure, the user equipmentobtains a radio transmission service in a manner of general carrieraggregation including one primary cell (Pcell) and one or more secondarycells (Scells) based on a configuration on a network side. For example,the configuring unit 112 of the electronic device 100 generateshigh-layer signaling including configuration information on thesecondary cell, for example, RRC signaling including an informationelement (IE) of sCellToAddModList, to allow the user equipment todetermine an available secondary cell. The configuration information onthe secondary cell includes a cell configuration such as a cell index, aphysical cell ID and a carrier frequency. In this case, the first cellmentioned above refers to a Pcell, while the second cell refers to anScell. Typically, one cell corresponds to one carrier in a specificfrequency, for example, the Pcell corresponds to a primary componentcarrier (PCC) and the Scell corresponds to a secondary component carrier(SCC). Therefore, in some of the following examples, the applicant doesnot distinguish references of the cell and the carrier, and thoseskilled in the art can understand the meaning of the references.

In another example of the present disclosure, the user equipmentoperates in a dual connectivity (DC) scenario. In the DC scenario, theUE is connected to two eNBs (a primary eNB and a secondary eNB), andserving cells of the UE include a master cell group (MCG) and asecondary cell group (SCG), respectively. The MCG includes one Pcell andone or more Scells, and the SCG includes one PSCell (i.e., a primarycell in the secondary cell group) and optionally one or more Scells. Inan example of DC, the PSCell may also be an example of the first cellmentioned above and may carry a detection threshold indication for otherScells in the SCG.

Furthermore, in another example of the present disclosure, the Scellsserving the user equipment may include an Scell operating in a licensedfrequency band. In a case that the Scell is configured with physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission in the licensed frequencyband, the Scell may transmit a detection threshold for an Scelloperating in an unlicensed frequency band. In other words, in this case,the first cell mentioned above may also be the Scell.

In the following, the general carrier aggregation is taken as an examplefor description, that is, in the description, the Pcell serves as thefirst cell and the Scell serves as the second cell.

In the electronic device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the generating unit 112may generate dynamically or semi-statically energy detection thresholdinformation for each of the second cell operating in the unlicensedfrequency band, and the UE performs energy detection on the unlicensedfrequency band based on the energy detection threshold information.

With the electronic device 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure, energy detection threshold information may begenerated dynamically or semi-statically for each of the second celloperating in an unlicensed frequency band, and the UE can perform energydetection on the unlicensed frequency band based on the energy detectionthreshold information varying dynamically or semi-statically.

In a case where energy of the unlicensed frequency band detected by theUE is less than an energy detection threshold, the UE may consider thatno other device transmits in the unlicensed frequency band currently orthat transmission in the unlicensed frequency band does not causeharmful interference to other devices, and thus the UE may performtransmission using the second cell operating in the unlicensed frequencyband. In a case where energy of the unlicensed frequency band detectedby the UE is not less than the energy detection threshold, the UE cannotperform transmission using the second cell operating in the unlicensedfrequency band. In this way, the energy detection threshold isdynamically or semi-statically adjusted for each of the second cell onthe network side in a centralized manner, therefore, the accuracy ofdetection and spectrum efficiency of a system can be improved ascompared with a static energy detection threshold solution or a uniformenergy detection threshold solution for different cells, andfurthermore, as compared with an energy detection threshold solutiondetermined on the UE side, the complexity and the energy consumption ofthe UE can be reduced, and the energy detection threshold solutiondetermined on the network side is equal and efficient without beingsubject to individual limitations of UEs.

However, another technical problem to be researched is, after the energydetection threshold is adjusted on the network side, how to effectivelynotify the UE of the adjusted energy detection threshold. According to apreferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing circuit110 may generate physical layer control signaling, such as downlinkcontrol information (DCI) carried by the PDCCH, including an energydetection threshold indication for each of the second cell operating inthe unlicensed frequency band. In view of a transmission period of thephysical layer signaling, the processing circuit 110 may dynamicallynotify of the energy detection threshold. However, since the physicallayer control signaling is transmitted frequently in the network,transmission resource overhead is huge and the number of bits carried inthe physical layer is limited strictly. The following preferred solutionis further provided in a case where energy detection thresholds formultiple second cells operating in the unlicensed frequency band arerequired to be notified to the UE, to contain all energy detectionthreshold indications in limited physical layer control signaling, thatis, the energy detection threshold information is contained in a DCIformat 1C by reusing the DCI format 1C, and is notified to the UE.

In the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) Rel-12, the DCI format1C is used for compactly scheduling for one codeword of a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH), to notify a change in a multicastcontrol channel (MCCH), and reconfigure time division duplexing (TDD).

If the DCI format 1C is used for an uplink (UL)/downlink (DL)configuration indication, the following information is transmitted bymeans of the DCI format 1C.

UL/DL configuration number 1, UL/DL configuration number 2, . . . ,UL/DL configuration number I.

where each of the UL/DL configuration occupies 3 bits,I=└L_(format 1c)/3┘, and L_(format 1c) equals to a size of a payload ofthe format 1C for compactly scheduling of one PDSCH codeword. Indexesfor the UL/DL configuration indications of the serving cells aredetermined based on a parameter eimta-ReConfigIndex provided by a higherlayer. A bit of zero is added until a size of the information is equalto a size of the format 1C for compactly scheduling for one PDSCHcodeword.

In the Rel-12, a TDD configuration on each carrier (licensed frequencyband) may be dynamically changed by the DCI format 1C. However,performances of the system cannot be improved necessarily by dynamicallychanging a TDD configuration in an unlicensed frequency band due to atime limit of occupying the unlicensed frequency band by an LTE systemand existence of an incomplete subframe, and information bit resourcescarrying the TDD configuration may be wasted.

In the present disclosure, an energy detection threshold can bedynamically adjusted by reusing the DCI format 1C, thereby effectivelynotifying of the energy detection threshold without adding a newinformation bit and without changing an original signaling structure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessing circuit 110 may reuse a bit in a DCI format 1C for indicatingan uplink and downlink configuration of the second cell as a bit for anenergy detection threshold indication used when energy detection isperformed for the second cell operating in the unlicensed frequencyband. The energy detection threshold indication herein may be, forexample, an index such as a serial number.

FIG. 2A shows an example of a format of a DCI format 1C designated fordynamically adjusting an energy detection threshold.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in the general carrier aggregation, after reusingthe DCI format 1C signaling, bits indicate as follows:

bits 0 to 2 indicate a TDD configuration (there are 7 types of TDDconfiguration) of a Pcell;

bits 3 to 5 indicate an energy detection threshold indication ED1 usedwhen a UE of Scell-1 performs energy detection;

bits 6 to 8 indicate an energy detection threshold indication ED2 usedwhen a UE of Scell-2 performs energy detection;

bits 9 to 11 indicate an energy detection threshold indication ED3 usedwhen a UE of Scell-3 performs energy detection; and

bits 12 to 14 indicate an energy detection threshold indication ED4 usedwhen a UE of Scell-4 performs energy detection.

It should be noted that, as described above, a dynamic TDD UL/DLconfiguration is not required in a case where the Scell operates in theunlicensed frequency band. In some examples, a part of multiple Scellsconfigured for the UE operate in the unlicensed frequency band and theother part operate in a licensed frequency band. Similar to the Pcell, abit in the DCI format 1C of the Scells operating in the licensedfrequency band is still used to indicate the UL/DL configuration. Inother words, only indication bits for a part of the Scells may bechanged in the DCI format 1C.

Energy detection threshold information can be dynamically generated byreusing the DCI format 1C as shown in FIG. 2A. It should be noted that,an optional example is further provided in the present disclosure, inwhich, the energy detection threshold information is carried by reusinga filling bit in the DCI format 1C without changing meanings ofindication bits for a TDD UL/DL configuration. In an example, energydetection threshold indications of multiple second cells are ranked froma specific position in the filling bit (for example as ruled in theprotocol) in a predetermined order for example an ascending order ofcell indexes, so that the UE may obtain energy detection thresholds ofthe second cell based on previous configuration information on thesecond cells.

In the case where an energy detection threshold is adjusted dynamicallyby reusing the DCI format 1C as described above, all UEs on the networkside may receive the energy detection threshold and perform energydetection based on the energy detection threshold. According to apreferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the following preferredsolution is further provided in a case where the energy detectionthreshold is notified to one or more special UEs, to contain the energydetection threshold indication into limited physical layer controlsignaling.

In a preferred embodiment, the energy detection threshold information iscontained into DL grant by reusing a DL grant in the DCI, and isnotified to the UE. In the 3GPP Rel-12, the DL grant belongs to a partof DCI information, and a DCI format 1/1A/1B/1D/2/2A/2B/2C/2D is used torepresent UE dedicated signaling, therefore, the energy detectionthreshold information may be transmitted to the specific UE.

In a preferred embodiment, the energy detection threshold information iscontained in DCI format 3/3A by reusing the DCI format 3/3A in the DCI,and is notified to the UE. In the 3GPP Rel-12, the DCI format 3/3A isused to represent a UE group dedicated signaling, therefore, the energydetection threshold information may be transmitted to multiple specificUEs. For example, the following information is transmitted by means ofthe DCI format 3/3A:

energy detection threshold information for a first UE, energy detectionthreshold information for a second UE, . . . , energy detectionthreshold information for an N-th UE.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessing circuit 110 may contain the energy detection thresholdinformation in media access control (MAC) signaling and notify the UE.In view of a transmission period of the MAC signaling, the processingcircuit 110 may semi-statically generate the energy detection thresholdinformation.

For example, an MAC control unit for the energy detection threshold maybe identified by a header of a MAC protocol data unit (PDU) having aspecific logical channel identity (LCID). For example, one of indexesranging from 01011 to 11001 is selected as a value of the LCID of theMAC control unit for the energy detection threshold. Upon receiving thesignaling, the UE determines whether a MAC control unit corresponding toa header of MAC PDU indicates an energy detection threshold by detectingthe LCID included in the header. FIG. 2B shows an example of an MACcontrol unit for an energy detection threshold.

The MAC control unit for the energy detection threshold as shown in FIG.2B has a fixed size and consists of two octets (Oct1 and Oct2). In FIG.2B, R represents a reserved bit and is set to be “0”. A field indicatingan energy detection threshold for each Scell has a length of 3 bits.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessing circuit 110 may also contain the energy detection thresholdinformation into radio resource control (RRC) signaling and notify theUE. In view of a transmission period of the RRC signaling, theprocessing circuit 110 may semi-statically generate the energy detectionthreshold information. It should be noted that the energy detectionthreshold information contained in the RRC signaling may be either anenergy detection threshold indication (e.g., an index of 3 bits in theabove example) or an energy detection threshold (e.g., x dBm).

For example, new RRC signaling, i.e., an information element of the LAAenergy detection threshold, may be defined in aRadioResourceConfigCommonSIB. For example, the following format may beused:

Format: energy detection threshold INTEGER (−92 . . . −60) dBm.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the energydetection threshold information may include an energy detectionthreshold. Preferably, the energy detection threshold information mayinclude an energy detection threshold indication for the second celloperating in the unlicensed frequency band. In the case where the energydetection threshold information includes the energy detection thresholdindication, the processing circuit 110 may contain multiple candidateenergy detection thresholds into dedicated signaling and notify the UEbefore generating the energy detection threshold information. In thiscase, the UE first obtains the multiple candidate energy detectionthresholds and indexes corresponding to the thresholds via the dedicatedsignaling (or subsequent broadcast signaling), and then receives anindication including the indexes for the energy detection thresholds viasubsequent physical-layer signaling or MAC signaling, in this case,energy detection thresholds for different Scells in the unlicensedfrequency band can be searched for and determined. In another example,the multiple candidate energy detection thresholds and the correspondingindexes are preset parameters of the system and are stored in advance inthe processing chip (e.g., a storage unit) of the UE, and the UE maydirectly determine energy detection thresholds for different cells uponreceiving the energy detection threshold indication.

Specifically, for example, the processing circuit 110 may containmultiple candidate energy detection thresholds into the RRC signalingand notify the UE, which reduce transmission resource overhead, ascompared with a solution in which a specific energy detection thresholdis notified each time. As compared with a solution in which candidateenergy detection thresholds are written into a chip in advance, thenotification manner with the dedicated signaling can adapt to a changein an operating state of a specific system with a higher flexibility. Ascompared with a broadcasting manner mentioned below, different candidateenergy detection thresholds can be set for different UEs on the networkside in the notification manner with the dedicated signaling, to realizethe differentiated service. For example, the UEs may be classified as ahigh-priority UE and a low-priority UE based on priorities, and theprocessing circuit 110 may set a candidate energy detection threshold ofthe high-priority UE to be greater than a candidate energy detectionthreshold of the low-priority UE, so that the high-priority UE easilyaccesses to the Scell in the unlicensed frequency band. The priority isclassified as a high priority and a low priority based on a factor suchas a business type and geographical location of a UE, which are notdescribed in detail herein.

In addition, the candidate energy detection thresholds may also bebroadcasted in a broadcast message. For example, the candidate energydetection thresholds may be notified to the UE by broadcasting systeminformation carried by a broadcast control channel (BCCH). As comparedwith other notification manner for the candidate energy detectionthresholds, in the broadcasting manner, not only a flexibilityrequirement of the system can be met to a certain extent, and thecandidate energy detection thresholds can be notified to the UEs in awhole range of a cell with less radio resource overhead.

FIG. 3 shows a mapping relationship between an energy detectionthreshold indication and an energy detection threshold. As shown in FIG.3, data of 3 bits on the left represents an energy detection thresholdindication carried by a PDCCH format 1C or a MAC control unit (CE) andthe like, and a decibel on the right represents an energy detectionthreshold preset on a UE side or in a high layer (RRC/MAC). Uponreceiving an energy detection threshold indication, the UE may obtain anenergy detection threshold by referring to the mapping table shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a fast adjustment method for an energydetection threshold according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, a primary cell Pcell operating in alicensed frequency band may carry the following information in a PDCCHformat 1C: a TDD configuration of the Pcell; energy detection (ED)threshold 1 of a first secondary cell Scell 1 operating in an unlicensedfrequency band; ED threshold 2 of a second secondary cell Scell 2operating in the unlicensed frequency band; ED threshold 3 of a thirdsecondary cell Scell 3 operating in the unlicensed frequency band; andED threshold 4 of a fourth secondary cell Scell 4 operating in theunlicensed frequency band. Next, energy detection is performed on Scell1 operating in the unlicensed frequency band with the ED threshold 1.Scell 1 is unavailable if the detected signal energy is not less thanthe ED threshold 1, and Scell 1 is available if the detected signalenergy is less than the ED threshold 1. If Scell 1 is still availableafter a delay period, data can be uploaded.

Similarly, energy detection is performed on Scell 2, Scell 3, and Scell4 operating in the unlicensed frequency band with the ED threshold 2,the ED threshold 3, and the ED threshold 4, respectively. If thesecondary cells are still available after the delay period, data can beuploaded.

It should be noted that, energy detection before uplink transmission istaken as an example in FIG. 4 for description, and the UE may further beconfigured to perform energy detection in a manner according to thepresent disclosure before downlink transmission with Scells in theunlicensed frequency band on a network side, and a downlink transmissionscheme is determined based on a feedback for a detection result of theUE.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessing circuit 110 may generate energy detection thresholdinformation based on traffic load and/or a channel idle probability ofthe unlicensed frequency band.

For example, the processing circuit 110 may generate energy detectionthreshold information based on traffic load in the unlicensed frequencyband. If the traffic load in the unlicensed frequency band is high, theprocessing circuit 110 may set a low energy detection threshold, therebyreducing load in the unlicensed frequency band.

On the other hand, the processing circuit 110 may generate energydetection threshold information based on traffic load in the licensedfrequency band. If the traffic load in the licensed frequency band ishigh, the processing circuit 110 may set a high energy detectionthreshold, thereby raising a possibility that the unlicensed frequencyband participates in shunting the traffic load.

In addition, the processing circuit 110 may generate energy detectionthreshold information based on the channel idle probability (statisticalinformation) of the unlicensed frequency band. If the channel idleprobability of the unlicensed frequency band is high, the processingcircuit 110 may set a high energy detection threshold, thereby raising apossibility that the unlicensed frequency band participates in channeltransmission.

In practice, the processing circuit 110 may also generate energydetection threshold information based on the traffic load as well as thechannel idle probability of the unlicensed frequency band.

The processing circuit 110 may also generate energy detection thresholdinformation based on transmission power of a transceiver. The energydetection threshold information has a linear relationship with thetransmission power of the transceiver.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessing circuit 110 (e.g., the generating unit 112) may generateenergy detection threshold information based on energy detectionthreshold indication information received from other electronic device.For example, the same or approximate thresholds may be set by differenteNBs, for fair use of the unlicensed frequency band.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessing circuit 110 (e.g., the generating unit 112) may generatehigh-layer signaling, such as RRC signaling, including configurationinformation on an energy detection report for the user equipment. Theconfiguration information on the energy detection report may include areport parameter related to at least one of a periodic energy detectionreport and a non-periodic energy detection report.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the userequipment may report the energy detection report periodically ornon-periodically, for example, the user equipment may accidently reportthe energy detection report. A communicating unit 120 may transmit thehigh-layer signaling, including the configuration information on theenergy detection report for the user equipment, generated by theprocessing circuit 110 to the user equipment after the high-layersignaling is generated by the processing circuit 110. Next, the userequipment reports an energy detection report based on the configurationinformation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theconfiguration information on the energy detection report may include aperiod of the periodic energy detection report and/or a triggeringcondition for the non-periodic energy detection report. The userequipment may periodically report in the period of the periodic energydetection report, or may non-periodically report based on the triggeringcondition for the non-periodic energy detection report.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the userequipment may include one or more timers and one or more counters, forperiodically and/or non-periodically reporting the energy detectionreport.

The user equipment performs energy detection based on a given energydetection threshold. In a case where the detected energy is less thanthe energy detection threshold, the user equipment may consider that noother device transmits in the frequency band currently, or thattransmission of the user equipment in the frequency band does not causeharmful interference to other devices, and thus the user equipment cantransmit in the frequency band, which is considered as successful energydetection. On the contrary, in a case where the detected energy is notless than the energy detection threshold, the user equipment mayconsider that other device transmits in the frequency band currently, orthat transmission of the user equipment in the frequency band can causeharmful interference to other devices, and thus the user equipmentcannot transmit in the frequency band, which is considered as failedenergy detection. The one or more counters in the user equipment maycount the number of failed energy detection for the given energydetection threshold.

Therefore, the period of the periodic energy detection report and/or thetriggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection report mayinclude timing threshold configurations of one or more timers, and mayinclude one or more counting threshold configurations related to failedenergy detection. In addition, the period of the periodic energydetection report and/or the triggering condition for the non-periodicenergy detection report may further include one or more thresholdconfigurations related to a failure rate of energy detection.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, thetiming threshold configurations may be included in a MAC-MainConfig cellof the RRC signaling.

It should be noted that according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the wireless communication system described above may be aLong Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) cellular communication system, theelectronic device 100 may be a base station, and the electronic device100 may further include the communicating unit 120 such as atransceiver. The communicating unit 120 may, for example, transmit theenergy detection threshold information via an air interface.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the firstcell operates in a licensed frequency band, and the transceiver includedin the electronic device 100 may transmit the energy detection thresholdinformation through the first cell.

A flow diagram of an adjustment method for an energy detection thresholdin the LAA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 5, which shows a timing diagramof a fast adjustment method for an energy detection threshold accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the eNB configures signaling supporting theLAA via the RRC. The UE determines to read a DCI format 1c in the PDCCHin the manner of the present disclosure based on the signaling.

Specifically, the signaling may be indicated using a dedicated RRCInformation Element (IE) such as LAA-MainConfig.

More specifically, the signaling may be indicated using an existingRRCConnectionReconfiguration message. In theRRCConnectionReconfiguration message, dl-CarrierFreq indicates adownlink carrier frequency of a secondary cell (in a frequency divisionduplexing (FDD) system with asymmetric uplink and downlink,ul-CarrierFreq is further contained to indicate an uplink carrierfrequency). The RRCConnectionReconfiguration message is transmitted bythe base station when the base station adds an scell to the UE forcarrier aggregation, and the UE may determine whether the scell is anLAA cell (operating in the unlicensed frequency band) by reading acarrier frequency indication in the message.

RRCConnectionReconfiguration Message

SCellToAddModList ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxSCell)) OF SCellToAddModSCellToAddMod ::= SEQUENCE {  sCellIndex  SCellIndex, cellIdentification  SEQUENCE {  physCellid  PhysCellid,  dl-CarrierFreq ARFCN-ValueEUTRA ul-CarrierFreq ARFCN-ValueEUTRA   }

Next, the eNB configures a signaling eIMTA-MainConfig supporting theenhanced interference mitigation and traffic adaptation (eIMTA) via theRRC. The UE determines to read a DCI format 1c in the PDCCH in themanner of the present disclosure based on the signaling. The signalingincludes content as follows.

EIMTA-MainConfig-r12 ::= CHOICE {  release   NULL,  setup  SEQUENCE {  eimta-RNTI-r12   C-RNTI,   eimta-CommandPeriodicity-r12 ENUMERATED{sf10, sf20, sf40, sf80},   eimta-CommandSubframeSet-r12 BIT STRING(SIZE(10))  } }

where eimta-CommandPeriodicity is used to configure a period to monitorthe PDCCH scrambled by the enhanced interference mitigation and trafficadaptation radio network temporary identifier (eIMTA-RNTI)(see TS36.213), sf10 corresponds to 10 subframes, sf20 corresponds to 20subframes, and so on.

In addition, eimta-CommandSubframeSet is used to configure subframes tomonitor the PDCCH scrambled by the eIMTA-RNTI within the periodconfigured through the eimta-CommandPeriodicity. 10 bits correspond toall subframes in a last radio frame within each period.

Next, the UE may obtain an energy detection threshold for each Scelloperating in the unlicensed frequency band by monitoring and decodingthe PDCCH scrambled by the eIMTA-RNTI on the TDD/FDD Pcell.

Next, if the UE is to transmit uplink data in the unlicensed frequencyband, for example, the UE may transmit an uplink transmission schedulingrequest (SR) to the eNB, and the eNB needs to transmit uplink grantsignaling (UL grant) to the UE.

Next, upon receiving the uplink grant, the UE performs energy detectionbased on an energy detection threshold carried by the PDCCH format 1C.If there are available frequency resources in the unlicensed frequencyband after a delay period, the uplink data is transmitted.

From the flow shown in FIG. 5, before performing uplink transmissionusing the Scell operating in the unlicensed frequency band, the UE maydetermine whether the Scell is available based on the thresholddetection. On the other hand, the base station may determine whether thedownlink resource is available for the UE, to find a hidden node thatcannot be detected on the base station side.

FIG. 6 shows a hidden node scenario in which a fast adjustment methodfor an energy detection threshold according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be applied. In the scenario as shown in FIG. 6,the base station 1 is using the unlicensed frequency band, and the basestation 2 normally detects interference by itself before performing LAAdownlink transmission, and no interference may be detected (the basestation 1 is a hidden node) by the base station 2, in this case, seriousinterference is caused to users such as UE3 and UE2 at the edge of thebase stations 1 and 2 when the base station 2 and the base station 1transmit in the same frequency band.

In view of this, before transmitting in the unlicensed frequency band,the base station 2 may configure a user equipment such as UE3 at theedge of the cell to perform energy detection according to theabove-described technical solution of the present disclosure anddetermine whether to use the unlicensed frequency band and use whichunlicensed frequency band based on a detection report from the UE3.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theprocessing circuit 110 may determine whether to transmit using thesecond cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band in response to anenergy detection report from the UE. In a preferred embodiment, theprocessing circuit 110 may determine whether to perform downlinktransmission using the second cell operating in the unlicensed frequencyband in response to an energy detection report from the UE.

FIG. 7 shows a timing diagram of applying a fast adjustment method foran energy detection threshold according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure in a hidden node scenario.

In FIG. 7, similar to the flow shown in FIG. 5, first, the eNBconfigures LAA-MainConfig signaling supporting the LAA by the RRC.

Next, the eNB configures eIMTA-MainConfig signaling supporting the eIMTAby the RRC.

Next, the eNB transmits a PDCCH format 1C in the Pcell to notify the UEof the energy detection threshold information.

Next, the eNB transmits a hidden node detection request in the Pcell.Upon receiving the hidden node detection request, the UE performs energydetection based on an energy detection threshold carried by the PDCCHformat 1C.

Next, the UE reports a detection report in the Pcell to the eNB.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an access point scenario in whichan adjustment method for an energy detection threshold according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may be applied. As shown in FIG. 8,the base station 1 may transmit the energy detection thresholdinformation to the UE1, and the UE1 performs energy detection based onthe received energy detection threshold information. If the userequipment detects that a received interference level is greater than anenergy detection threshold, it is determined that the user equipmentsuffers from interference from the LAA system. However, as shown in FIG.8, an access point AP of a WiFi system is arranged around the UE1, andit is not determined whether the UE1 suffers from interference from theAP of the WiFi system.

For the above scenario, according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the processing circuit 110 may cause thecommunicating unit 120 to transmit a first energy detection threshold tothe user equipment, and the user equipment performs energy detectionbased on the first energy detection threshold. In the case where theuser equipment detects that the received interference level is greaterthan the first energy detection threshold, it is determined that theuser equipment suffers from the interference from the LAA system but itis not determined whether the user equipment also suffers from theinterference from the WiFi system. The user equipment reports an energydetection report to the base station side. After the report is receivedon the base station side, the processing circuit 110 may cause thecommunicating unit 120 to transmit a second energy detection thresholdless than the first energy detection threshold to the user equipment andmay at least set power of an LAA transmission controlled by theprocessing circuit to be zero. According to a preferred example of thepresent disclosure, the processing circuit 110 may also reduce or resetpower of an LAA transmission of an adjacent cell by negotiating with theadjacent base station through X2 signaling. Next, the user equipmentperforms energy detection again based on the second energy detectionthreshold. In the case where the user equipment detects that a receivedinterference level is greater than the second energy detectionthreshold, it is determined that the user equipment suffers frominterference from the WiFi system due to the absence of the interferencefrom the LAA system, and in the case where the user equipment detectsthat the received interference level is less than the second energydetection threshold, it is determined that there is no interference fromthe WiFi system. Next, the user equipment may report an energy detectionreport to the base station side.

In a preferred embodiment, the processing circuit 110 may adjust theenergy detection threshold information in response to an energydetection report from the user equipment, and the communicating unit 120may notify the user equipment of the adjusted energy detection thresholdinformation. Preferably, the processing circuit 110 adjusts the energydetection threshold to be greater than the second energy detectionthreshold and less than the first energy detection threshold.

In a preferred embodiment, the network side may determine a source ofthe interference for example with the two-step configuration method forthe energy detection threshold described above. If the interference onthe user equipment mainly comes from the LAA system, the processingcircuit 110 selects a higher energy detection threshold among the firstenergy detection threshold and the second energy detection thresholdwhen adjusting the energy detection threshold, to increase a probabilitythat the UE accesses into the frequency band. In another preferredembodiment, it is determined by the network side that a hidden node maybe arranged around the user equipment, and the processing circuit 110may select a lower energy detection threshold among the first energydetection threshold and the second energy detection threshold whenadjusting the energy detection threshold, to reduce the probability thatthe UE accesses into the frequency band, thereby reducing theinterference of the UE onto the hidden node around the user equipment.

In a preferred embodiment, the processing circuit 110 may transmit thefirst energy detection threshold and the second energy detectionthreshold by reusing the DCI information, or may transmit one of thefirst energy detection threshold and the second energy detectionthreshold by reusing the DCI information and transmit the other of thefirst energy detection threshold and the second energy detectionthreshold through high-layer signaling. In a preferred embodiment, theprocessing circuit 110 may transmit the adjusted energy detectionthreshold by reusing the DCI format 1C, or may transmit the adjustedenergy detection threshold by reusing the DL grant or the DCI format3/3A.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing adjusting an energy detectionthreshold on a base station side with an adjustment method for an energydetection threshold according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, a UE1 is arranged within the coverage ofa base station 1, a UE2 is arranged within the coverage of a basestation 2, and the base station 1 and the base station 2 may belong todifferent operators. The base station 1 performs energy detection basedon an energy detection threshold on the base station side, and UE2arranged within the coverage of the base station 2 cannot be detected bythe base station 1, and UE2 may suffer from interference when UE1performs uplink transmission via physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

For the above scenario, in a preferred embodiment, the processingcircuit 110 may adjust energy detection threshold information fordownlink transmission on the base station side in response to an energydetection report from the user equipment. For example, the processingcircuit 110 may reduce the energy detection threshold for downlinktransmission on the base station side, that is, the processing circuit110 reduces a threshold used by the base station for performing energydetection, to find a possible hidden node such as the UE2 around theuser equipment.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the processingcircuit 110 may determine whether to schedule the user equipment in thecell to perform uplink transmission in response to an energy detectionreport from the user equipment. For example, in the case where the basestation finds a hidden node such as the UE2 around the UE1, the basestation may monitor an operating state of the hidden node. In apreferred embodiment, in a case where the base station monitors that thehidden node does not occupy a frequency band into which the UE1 is toaccess, it is allowed to schedule the UE to perform uplink transmissionin the frequency band. In another preferred embodiment, in a case wherethe base station monitors that the hidden node occupies the frequencyband to which UE1 is to access, it is not allowed to schedule the UE1 toperform uplink transmission in the frequency band.

Next, a user equipment in a wireless communication system is describedin detail. FIG. 10 shows a structure of a user equipment 800 in awireless communication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Similarly, the wireless communication system includes atleast one first cell and one or more second cells, and at least one ofthe second cells operates in an unlicensed frequency band.

As shown in FIG. 10, the user equipment 800 may include a processingcircuit 810. It should be noted that the user equipment 800 may includeone processing circuit 810 or multiple processing circuits 810. The userequipment 800 may further include a communicating unit 820 such as atransceiver.

As described above, similarly, the processing circuit 810 may includevarious discrete functional units to perform various different functionsand/or operations. The functional units may be physical entities orlogical entities, and units referred to as different names may beimplemented as a same physical entity.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the processing circuit 810 may includean energy detecting unit 811.

The communicating unit 820 may receive configuration information on atleast one second cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band forcarrier aggregation and receive energy detection threshold informationfor each of the second cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band.

Further, the energy detecting unit 811 may perform energy detection onthe unlicensed frequency band based on the energy detection thresholdinformation.

Preferably, the processing circuit 810 may decode the DCI format 1Creceived by the communicating unit 820 to extract the energy detectionthreshold information.

Preferably, the processing circuit 810 may decode the MAC signalingreceived by the communicating unit 820 to extract the energy detectionthreshold information.

Preferably, the processing circuit 810 may decode the RRC signalingreceived by the communicating unit 820 to extract the energy detectionthreshold information.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the userequipment 800 may further include a memory (not shown). The energydetection threshold information may include an energy detectionthreshold indication for the second cell operating in the unlicensedfrequency band. The processing circuit 810 may decode the RRC signalingreceived in advance by the communicating unit 820 to extract multiplecandidate energy detection thresholds and may store the multiplecandidate energy detection thresholds in the memory.

Preferably, the communicating unit 820 may further receive uplinktransmission grant information on the second cell operating in theunlicensed frequency band and may perform uplink transmission in a casewhere an energy detection result for the second cell operating in theunlicensed frequency band indicates that the unlicensed frequency bandis idle.

Preferably, the communicating unit 820 may transmit the energy detectionresult from the processing circuit 810 to a base station serving theuser equipment 800 in the wireless communication system.

Preferably, the processing circuit 810 may further include one or moretimers. The communicating unit 820 may transmit the energy detectionresult from the processing circuit 810 to the base station serving theuser equipment 800 in the wireless communication system after the one ormore timers overflow. One or more of the timers may be a MAC timerherein.

Preferably, the processing circuit 810 may further include one or morecounters for counting the number of failed energy detection results, andthe energy detection result may include a count of the counter.

Preferably, the communicating unit 820 may further be configured toreceive high-layer signaling including configuration information on anenergy detection report for the user equipment 800, and theconfiguration information on the energy detection report may include areport parameter related to at least one of a periodic energy detectionreport and a non-periodic energy detection report.

Preferably, the configuration information on the energy detection reportincludes a period of the periodic energy detection report and/or atriggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection report.

Preferably, the period of the periodic energy detection report and/orthe triggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection reportincludes timing threshold configurations of the one or more timers, andmay include one or more counting threshold configurations of thecounters. In addition, the period of the periodic energy detectionreport and/or the triggering condition for the non-periodic energydetection report may further include one or more thresholdconfigurations related on a failure rate of energy detection.

Therefore, the user equipment 800 may report an energy detection reportperiodically and/or non-periodically based on the received configurationinformation. Processes that the user equipment 800 reports the energydetection report periodically and non-periodically are described belowwith reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing that a user equipment in awireless communication system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure reports an energy detection report non-periodically. Theprocessing circuit 810 of the user equipment 800 may further include afirst timer and a first counter. The first timer is provided with afirst timing threshold, and the first counter is configured to count thenumber of failed energy detection results for a given energy detectionthreshold. As shown in FIG. 11, when a condition for non-periodicallytriggering to report an energy detection result is met, the first timeris started, and when the first timer overflows, i.e., the first timersreaches the first timing threshold, the non-periodic energy detectionresult is triggered to be reported. The energy detection result mayinclude a count of the first counter. The condition for non-periodicallytriggering to report the energy detection result herein may be that acount of the first counter exceeds the first counting threshold, forexample, the number of the failed energy detection results for the givenenergy detection threshold (e.g., −87 dBm) exceeds 5, the first timer isstarted. When the first timer overflows, the energy detection result isreported, for example, the number of failed energy detection is 10.

In the embodiment of reporting the energy detection resultnon-periodically, the first timer is reset and the first counter iscleared in a case that one of the following conditions is met: a) theuser equipment 800 receives a new energy detection threshold before thefirst timer overflows; b) the number of the failed energy detectionresults does not reach a predetermined number in an interval forreporting the energy detection result; and c) the energy detectionresult is reported. As described above, the base station may transmitsignaling to the user equipment 800 after receiving the energy detectionreport. The energy detection result may be reported via the MACsignaling, and the signaling transmitted from the base station to theuser equipment 800 may be the physical-layer signaling and thehigh-layer signaling.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing that the user equipment 800 inthe wireless communication system according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure reports an energy detection report periodically. Theprocessing circuit 810 of the user equipment 800 may further include asecond timer and a second counter. The second timer is provided with asecond timing threshold and overflows periodically, and the secondcounter is configured to count the number of failed energy detectionresults for a given energy detection threshold. As shown in FIG. 12,when the second timer overflows, i.e., the second timer reaches thesecond timing threshold, the energy detection result is triggered to bereported. The energy detection result may include a count of the secondcounter. When the energy detection result is reported, the secondcounter is cleared and the second timer is reset. As described above,the base station may transmit signaling to the user equipment 800 afterreceiving the energy detection report. The energy detection result maybe reported via the MAC signaling, and the signaling transmitted fromthe base station to the user equipment 800 may be the physical-layersignaling and the high-layer signaling.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, theperiod of the periodic energy detection report and/or the triggeringcondition for the non-periodic energy detection report may furtherinclude one or more threshold configurations related on a failure rateof energy detection. As described above, the one or more counters in theuser equipment 800 may count the number of failed energy detectionresults, and a failure rate of energy detection may be calculated, i.e.,a ratio of the number of the failed energy detection results to thetotal number of energy detection. The energy detection result mayinclude the failure rate of energy detection, and the condition fornon-periodically triggering to report the energy detection result may bethat the failure rate of energy detection exceeds a failure ratethreshold of energy detection.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, multipledifferent thresholds may be set for the failure rate of energydetection, and the condition for non-periodically triggering to reportthe energy detection result may be that the failure rate of energydetection exceeds one of the multiple failure rate thresholds of energydetection. Similarly, each counting threshold and each failure ratethreshold of energy detection may also correspond to multiple timers. Incase where the user equipment 800 reports the energy detection result, areport ID may be added to the energy detection report to distinguish theevents (e.g., the failure rate threshold of energy detection and thetimer) to be reported. The report ID herein may be, for example, alogical channel identifier (LCID) of the MAC control unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, uponreceiving the energy detection report transmitted from the userequipment 800, the base station may be configured to perform one or moreof the following operations: determining that a hidden node existsaround the user equipment 800 if the failure rate of energy detection ishigh, for example, greater than 90%; increasing the energy detectionthreshold of the user equipment 800 if the failure rate of energydetection is moderate and the user equipment 800 has a large demand foruplink traffic, to increase the probability that the user equipment 800accesses into the frequency band; allocating more resources to afrequency band with less number of failed energy detection whencontrolling uplink power.

The electronic device (user equipment) in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has beendescribed above. A base station in a wireless communication systemaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure is furtherdescribed below with reference to FIG. 13, which shows a structure of abase station 900 in a wireless communication system according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

The base station 900 may manage a first cell operating in a licensedfrequency band and a second cell operating in an unlicensed frequencyband.

As shown in FIG. 13, the base station 900 may include a processingcircuit 910. It should be noted that the base station 900 may includeone processing circuit 910 or multiple processing circuits 910. The basestation 900 may further include a communicating unit 920 such as atransceiver.

As described above, similarly, the processing circuit 910 may includevarious discrete functional units to perform various different functionsand/or operations. The functional units may be physical entities orlogical entities, and units referred to as different names may beimplemented as a same physical entity.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the processing circuit 910 may includegenerating units 911 and 912.

The generating unit 911 may generate multiple energy detectionthresholds based on a network status, and contain the multiple energydetection thresholds into first signaling. The first signaling hereinmay be high-layer signaling such as the RRC.

The network status herein may be one or more of the followingparameters: an antenna gain and the number of transmission antennas;coexistence with the LAA system in the absence of other wireless accesstechnology (including Wi-Fi); a maximum effective isotropic radiatedpower (EIRP) of a transmission point of the LAA system in the unlicensedfrequency band; a maximum EIRP within transmission burst after thelisten before talk (LBT) program; a transmission bandwidth; measuredbackground noise of an environment; a topological scenario (indoor oroutdoor); estimated load in an operating channel; and the feasibility ofa coexistence test.

The generating unit 912 may generate an energy detection thresholdindication for indicating one of the multiple energy detectionthresholds for the second cell. The UE performs energy detection on theunlicensed frequency band corresponding to the second cell based on theenergy detection threshold indication. The generating unit 912 mayfurther contain the energy detection threshold indication into secondsignaling. The second signaling herein may be, for example, aphysical-layer signaling (a DCI in the PDCCH) or a MAC-layer signaling.

It should be noted that a transmission interval of the first signalingis longer than a transmission interval of the second signaling.

With the base station 900 as shown in FIG. 13, the multiple energydetection thresholds may be transmitted through the first signalinghaving a longer transmission interval, and the energy detectionthreshold indication for indicating one of the multiple energy detectionthresholds may be transmitted through the second signaling having ashorter transmission interval, thereby reducing transmission resourceoverhead, adapting to a change in an operating state of a specificsystem with a higher flexibility. In this way, multiple systems arecoordinated to use a same unlicensed frequency band, thereby optimizinguse for an unlicensed spectrum, and the systems have equal rights to usethe unlicensed frequency band.

Corresponding to the base station 900 shown in FIG. 13, a user equipmentin a wireless communication system is provided according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure. Similarly, the wirelesscommunication system includes one first cell and one or more secondcells, and at least one of the second cells operates in an unlicensedfrequency band.

Similarly, the user equipment may include a processing circuit. Itshould be noted that the user equipment may include one processingcircuit or multiple processing circuits. The user equipment may furtherinclude a communicating unit such as a transceiver.

As described above, similarly, the processing circuit may includevarious discrete functional units to perform various different functionsand/or operations. The functional units may be physical entities orlogical entities, and units referred to as different names may beimplemented as a same physical entity.

For example, the processing circuit may include an energy detectingunit.

The processing circuit may cause the communicating unit to receive, froma base station serving the user equipment, first signaling includingmultiple energy detection thresholds.

Further, the processing circuit may cause the communicating unit toreceive, from the base station, second signaling including an energydetection threshold indication for indicating one of the multiple energydetection thresholds.

Further, the energy detecting unit in the processing circuit may performenergy detection on the unlicensed frequency band based on the energydetection threshold indication.

It should also be noted that a transmission interval of the firstsignaling is longer than a transmission interval of the secondsignaling.

Next, a wireless communication method in a wireless communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described.Similarly, the wireless communication system includes at least one firstcell and one or more second cells, and at least one of the second cellsoperates in an unlicensed frequency band. The method may include:configuring the at least one second cell operating in the unlicensedfrequency band for a user equipment, for carrier aggregationcommunication; and generating dynamically or semi-statically energydetection threshold information for each of the second cell operating inthe unlicensed frequency band so that the user equipment performs energydetection on the unlicensed frequency band based on the energy detectionthreshold information.

Preferably, the method may further include: containing the energydetection threshold information into a DCI format 1C by reusing a DCIformat 1C, and notifying the user equipment.

Preferably, the method may further include: reusing a bit in the DCIformat 1C for indicating an uplink and downlink configuration of thesecond cell as a bit for an energy detection threshold indication usedwhen energy detection is performed for the at least one second celloperating in the unlicensed frequency band.

Preferably, the method may further include: containing the energydetection threshold information into MAC signaling and notifying theuser equipment.

Preferably, the method may further include: containing the energydetection threshold information into RRC signaling and notifying theuser equipment.

Preferably, the energy detection threshold information may include anenergy detection threshold indication for the second cell operating inthe unlicensed frequency band, and the method may further include:before generating the energy detection threshold information, containingmultiple candidate energy detection thresholds into dedicated signalingand notifying the user equipment.

Preferably, the method may further include generating the energydetection threshold information based on traffic load and/or a channelidle probability of the unlicensed frequency band.

Preferably, the method may further include generating the energydetection threshold information based on energy detection thresholdindication information received from other electronic device.

Preferably, the method may further include generating high-layersignaling including configuration information on an energy detectionreport for the user equipment, where the configuration information onthe energy detection report includes a report parameter related to atleast one of a periodic energy detection report and a non-periodicenergy detection report.

Preferably, the configuration information on the energy detection reportincludes a period of the periodic energy detection report and/or atriggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection report.

Preferably, the period of the periodic energy detection report and/orthe triggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection reportincludes timing threshold configurations of one or more timers.

Preferably, the triggering condition for the non-periodic energydetection report includes one or more counting threshold configurationsrelated to failed energy detection.

Preferably, the method may further include: determining, in response toan energy detection report from the user equipment, whether to transmitusing the second cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band.

Preferably, the method may further include adjusting the energydetection threshold information in response to an energy detectionreport from the user equipment, and notifying the user equipment of theadjusted energy detection threshold information.

Preferably, the method may further include: adjusting energy detectionthreshold information on an electronic device side for downlinktransmission in response to an energy detection report from the userequipment.

Preferably, the first cell operates in a licensed frequency band and theenergy detection threshold information may be transmitted via the firstcell.

In another aspect, a wireless communication method in a wirelesscommunication system according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include: receiving configuration information on at leastone second cell operating in an unlicensed frequency band for carrieraggregation; receiving energy detection threshold information for eachof the second cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band; andperforming energy detection on the unlicensed frequency band based onthe energy detection threshold information. Similarly, the wirelesscommunication system includes at least one first cell and one or moresecond cells, and at least one of the one or more second cells operatesin the unlicensed frequency band.

Preferably, the method may further include decoding received DCI format1C to extract the energy detection threshold information.

Preferably, the method may further include decoding received MACsignaling to extract the energy detection threshold information.

Preferably, the method may further include decoding received RRCsignaling to extract the energy detection threshold information.

Preferably, the energy detection threshold information may include anenergy detection threshold indication for the second cell operating inthe unlicensed frequency band, and the method may further includedecoding the RRC signaling in advance received to extract multiplecandidate energy detection thresholds, and storing the multiplecandidate energy detection thresholds in a memory included in the userequipment.

Preferably, the method may further include: receiving uplinktransmission grant information on the second cell operating in theunlicensed frequency band; and performing uplink transmission in a casewhere an energy detection result for the second cell operating in theunlicensed frequency band indicates that the unlicensed frequency bandis idle.

Preferably, the method may further include transmitting the energydetection result to a base station serving the user equipment in thewireless communication system.

Preferably, the transmitting the energy detection result to the basestation serving the user equipment in the wireless communication systemmay include: transmitting the energy detection result to the basestation serving the user equipment in the wireless communication systemafter one or more timers overflow.

Preferably, the transmitting the energy detection result to the basestation serving the user equipment in the wireless communication systemmay include counting the number of failed energy detection results,where the energy detection result includes a count of the counter.

Preferably, the method may further include: receiving high-layersignaling containing configuration information on an energy detectionreport for the user equipment, where the configuration information onthe energy detection report includes a report parameter related to atleast one of a periodic energy detection report and a non-periodicenergy detection report.

Preferably, the configuration information on the energy detection reportincludes a period of the periodic energy detection report and/or atriggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection report.

Preferably, the period of the periodic energy detection report and/orthe triggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection reportincludes timing threshold configurations of one or more timers.

Preferably, the triggering condition for the non-periodic energydetection report includes one or more counting threshold configurationsof the counters.

On the other hand, a wireless communication method in a wirelesscommunication system according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include: generating multiple energy detection thresholdsbased on a network status, and containing the multiple energy detectionthresholds into first signaling; and generating, for a second cell, anenergy detection threshold indication for indicating one of the multipleenergy detection thresholds so that a user equipment performs energydetection on an unlicensed frequency band corresponding to the secondcell based on the energy detection threshold indication, and containingthe energy detection threshold indication in second signaling, and wherea transmission interval of the first signaling is longer than atransmission interval of the second signaling long. A base station inthe wireless communication system manages a first cell operating in alicensed frequency band and the second cell operating in the unlicensedfrequency band.

On the other hand, a wireless communication method in a wirelesscommunication system according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include: receiving, from a base station serving a userequipment, a first signaling including multiple energy detectionthresholds; receiving, from the base station, second signaling includingan energy detection threshold indication for indicating one of themultiple energy detection thresholds; and performing energy detection onthe unlicensed frequency band based on the energy detection thresholdindication, where a transmission interval of the first signaling islonger than a transmission interval of the second signaling. Thewireless communication system includes one first cell and one or moresecond cells, and at least one of the one or more second cells operatesin the unlicensed frequency band.

Various embodiments of the above-described steps of a wirelesscommunication method in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure have been described in detail,which are not repeated herein.

The technology according to the present disclosure can be applied tovarious types of products. For example, the base station mentioned inthe present disclosure may be implemented as any type of evolution NodeB (eNB), such as a macro eNB and a small eNB. The small eNB may be aneNB covering a cell smaller than a macro cell, such as a pico eNB, amicro eNB or a home (femto) eNB. Alternatively, the base station may beimplemented as any other type of base station, such as a NodeB and abase transceiver station (BTS). The base station may include: a mainbody (also referred to as a base station apparatus) configured tocontrol wireless communication; and one or more remote radio heads (RRH)arranged at positions different from the main body. In addition, varioustypes of terminals described below may operate as a base station byperforming functions of the base station temporarily or in asemi-persistent manner.

For example, the UE mentioned in the present disclosure may beimplemented as a mobile terminal (such as a smartphone, a tabletpersonal computer (PC), a notebook PC, a portable game terminal, aportable/dongle mobile router and a digital camera device) or anin-vehicle terminal (such as a car navigation apparatus). The UE mayalso be implemented as a terminal (also referred to as a machine-typecommunication (MTC) terminal) performing machine to machine (M2M)communication. In addition, the UE may be a wireless communicationmodule (such as an integrated circuit module including a single chip)installed on each of the above terminals.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a first schematic configurationexample of an eNB to which the technology of the present disclosure maybe applied. An eNB 100 includes one or more antennas 1010 and a basestation apparatus 1020. Each antenna 1010 and the base station apparatus1020 may be connected to each other via an RF cable.

Each of the antennas 1010 includes a single or multiple antenna elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and isused for the base station apparatus 1020 to transmit and receive radiosignals. As shown in FIG. 14, the eNB 1000 may include the multipleantennas 1010. For example, the multiple antennas 1010 may be compatiblewith multiple frequency bands used by the eNB 1000. Although FIG. 14shows the example in which the eNB 1000 includes the multiple antennas1010, the eNB 1000 may also include a single antenna 1010.

The base station apparatus 1020 includes a controller 1021, a memory1022, a network interface 1023, and a wireless communication interface1025.

The controller 1021 may be, for example, a CPU or a DSP, and operatesvarious functions of a higher layer of the base station apparatus 1020.For example, the controller 1021 generates a data packet from data insignals processed by the wireless communication interface 1025, andtransfers the generated packet via the network interface 1023. Thecontroller 1021 may bundle data from multiple base band processors togenerate the bundled packet, and transfer the generated bundled packet.The controller 1021 may have logical functions of performing controlsuch as radio resource control, radio bearer control, mobilitymanagement, admission control and scheduling. The control may beperformed in corporation with an eNB or a core network node in thevicinity. The memory 1022 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a programexecuted by the controller 1021, and various types of control data (suchas a terminal list, transmission power data, and scheduling data).

The network interface 1023 is a communication interface for connectingthe base station apparatus 1020 to a core network 1024. The controller1021 may communicate with a core network node or another eNB via thenetwork interface 1023. In that case, the eNB 1000, and the core networknode or the other eNB may be connected to each other through a logicalinterface (such as an S1 interface and an X2 interface). The networkinterface 1023 may also be a wired communication interface or a wirelesscommunication interface for wireless backhaul. If the network interface1023 is a wireless communication interface, the network interface 1023may use a higher frequency band for wireless communication than afrequency band used by the wireless communication interface 1025.

The wireless communication interface 1025 supports any cellularcommunication scheme (such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) andLTE-Advanced), and provides wireless connection to a terminal positionedin a cell of the eNB 1000 via the antenna 1010. The wirelesscommunication interface 1025 may typically include, for example, abaseband (BB) processor 1026 and an RF circuit 1027. The BB processor1026 may perform, for example, encoding/decoding,modulating/demodulating, and multiplexing/demultiplexing, and performsvarious types of signal processing of layers (such as L1, medium accesscontrol (MAC), wireless link control (RLC), and a packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP)). The BB processor 1026 may have a part orall of the above-described logical functions instead of the controller1021. The BB processor 1026 may be a memory that stores a communicationcontrol program, or a module that includes a processor and a relatedcircuit configured to execute the program. Updating the program mayallow the functions of the BB processor 1026 to be changed. The modulemay be a card or a blade that is inserted into a slot of the basestation apparatus 1020. Alternatively, the module may also be a chipthat is mounted on the card or the blade. Meanwhile, the RF circuit 1027may include, for example, a mixer, a filter, and an amplifier, andtransmits and receives wireless signals via the antenna 1010.

As shown in FIG. 14, the wireless communication interface 1025 mayinclude the multiple BB processors 1026. For example, the multiple BBprocessors 1026 may be compatible with multiple frequency bands used bythe eNB 1000. As shown in FIG. 14, the wireless communication interface1025 may include the multiple RF circuits 1027. For example, themultiple RF circuits 1027 may be compatible with multiple antennaelements. Although FIG. 14 shows the example in which the wirelesscommunication interface 1025 includes the multiple BB processors 1026and the multiple RF circuits 1027, the wireless communication interface1025 may also include a single BB processor 1026 or a single RF circuit1027.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a second schematic configurationexample of an eNB to which the technology of the present disclosure maybe applied. An eNB 1130 includes one or more antennas 1140, a basestation apparatus 1150, and an RRH 1160. Each antenna 1140 and the RRH1160 may be connected to each other via an RF cable. The base stationapparatus 1150 and the RRH 1160 may be connected to each other via ahigh speed line such as an optical fiber cable.

Each of the antennas 1140 includes a single or multiple antenna elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and isused for the RRH 1160 to transmit and receive radio signals. As shown inFIG. 15, the eNB 1130 may include the multiple antennas 1140. Forexample, the multiple antennas 1140 may be compatible with multiplefrequency bands used by the eNB 1130. Although FIG. 15 shows the examplein which the eNB 1130 includes the multiple antennas 1140, the eNB 1130may also include a single antenna 1140.

The base station apparatus 1150 includes a controller 1151, a memory1152, a network interface 1153, a wireless communication interface 1155,and a connection interface 1157. The controller 1151, the memory 1152,and the network interface 1153 are the same as the controller 1021, thememory 1022, and the network interface 1023 described with reference toFIG. 14.

The wireless communication interface 1155 supports any cellularcommunication scheme (such as LTE and LTE-Advanced), and provideswireless communication to a terminal positioned in a sectorcorresponding to the RRH 1160 via the RRH 1160 and the antenna 1140. Thewireless communication interface 1155 may typically include, forexample, a BB processor 1156. The BB processor 1156 is the same as theBB processor 1026 described with reference to FIG. 14, except the BBprocessor 1156 is connected to the RF circuit 1164 of the RRH 1160 viathe connection interface 1157. As shown in FIG. 15, the wirelesscommunication interface 1155 may include the multiple BB processors1156. For example, the multiple BB processors 1156 may be compatiblewith multiple frequency bands used by the eNB 1130. Although FIG. 15shows the example in which the wireless communication interface 1155includes the multiple BB processors 1156, the wireless communicationinterface 1155 may also include a single BB processor 1156.

The connection interface 1157 is an interface for connecting the basestation apparatus 1150 (wireless communication interface 1155) to theRRH 1160. The connection interface 1157 may also be a communicationmodule for communication in the above-described high speed line thatconnects the base station apparatus 1150 (wireless communicationinterface 1155) to the RRH 1160.

The RRH 1160 includes a connection interface 1161 and a wirelesscommunication interface 1163.

The connection interface 1161 is an interface for connecting the RRH1160 (wireless communication interface 1163) to the base stationapparatus 1150. The connection interface 1161 may also be acommunication module for communication in the above-described high speedline.

The wireless communication interface 1163 transmits and receiveswireless signals via the antenna 1140. The wireless communicationinterface 1163 may typically include, for example, the RF circuit 1164.The RF circuit 1164 may include, for example, a mixer, a filter, and anamplifier, and transmits and receives wireless signals via the antenna1140. As shown in FIG. 15, the wireless communication interface 1163 mayinclude multiple RF circuits 1164. For example, the multiple RF circuits1164 may support multiple antenna elements. Although FIG. 15 shows theexample in which the wireless communication interface 1163 includes themultiple RF circuits 1164, the wireless communication interface 1163 mayalso include a single RF circuit 1164.

In the eNB 1000 shown in FIG. 14 and eNB 1130 shown in FIG. 15, theprocessing circuit 110 described with reference to FIG. 1 and theconfiguring unit 111 and the generating unit 112 in the processingcircuit 110, and the processing circuit 910 described with reference toFIG. 13 and the generating units 911 and 912 in the processing circuit910 may be implemented by the controller 1021 and/or the controller1151, and the communicating unit 120 described with reference to FIG. 1and the communicating unit 920 described with reference to FIG. 13 maybe implemented by the wireless communication interface 1025 and thewireless communication interface 1155 and/or the wireless communicationinterface 1163. At least a part of the functions may also be implementedby the controller 1021 and the controller 1151. For example, thecontroller 1021 and/or the controller 1151 may implement the functionsof configuring a cell operating in an unlicensed frequency band andgenerating energy detection threshold information by executinginstructions stored in memories.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example ofa smartphone 1200 to which the technology of the present disclosure maybe applied. The smartphone 1200 includes a processor 1201, a memory1202, a storage 1203, an external connection interface 1204, a camera1206, a sensor 1207, a microphone 1208, an input device 1209, a displaydevice 1210, a speaker 1211, a wireless communication interface 1212,one or more antenna switches 1215, one or more antennas 1216, a bus1217, a battery 1218, and an auxiliary controller 1219.

The processor 1201 may be, for example, a CPU or a system on a chip(SoC), and controls functions of an application layer and another layerof the smartphone 1200. The memory 1202 includes RAM and ROM, and storesa program that is executed by the processor 1201 and data. The storage1203 may include a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory and ahard disk. The external connection interface 1204 is an interface forconnecting an external device (such as a memory card and a universalserial bus (USB) device) to the smartphone 1200.

The camera 1206 includes an image sensor (such as a charge coupleddevice (CCD) and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)), andgenerates a captured image. The sensor 1207 may include a group ofsensors such as a measurement sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagneticsensor and an acceleration sensor. The microphone 1208 converts soundsthat are input to the smartphone 1200 to audio signals. The input device1209 includes, for example, a touch sensor configured to detect touchonto a screen of the display device 1210, a keypad, a keyboard, a buttonor a switch, and receives an operation or an information input from auser. The display device 1210 includes a screen such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, anddisplays an output image of the smartphone 1200. The speaker 1211converts audio signals outputted from the smartphone 1200 to sounds.

The wireless communication interface 1212 supports any cellularcommunication scheme such as LET and LTE-Advanced, and performs wirelesscommunication. The wireless communication interface 1212 may typicallyinclude, for example, a BB processor 1213 and an RF circuit 1214. The BBprocessor 1213 may perform, for example, encoding/decoding,modulating/demodulating, and multiplexing/demultiplexing, and performsvarious types of signal processing for wireless communication.Meanwhile, the RF circuit 1214 may include, for example, a mixer, afilter and an amplifier, and transmits and receives wireless signals viathe antenna 1216. The wireless communication interface 1212 may be a onechip module having the BB processor 1213 and the RF circuit 1214integrated thereon. As shown in FIG. 16, the wireless communicationinterface 1212 may include the multiple BB processors 1213 and themultiple RF circuits 1214. Although FIG. 16 shows the example in whichthe wireless communication interface 1212 includes the multiple BBprocessors 1213 and the multiple RF circuits 1214, the wirelesscommunication interface 1212 may also include a single BB processor 1213or a single RF circuit 1214.

Furthermore, in addition to a cellular communication scheme, thewireless communication interface 1212 may support another type ofwireless communication scheme such as a short-distance wirelesscommunication scheme, a near field communication scheme, and a wirelesslocal area network (LAN) scheme. In that case, the wirelesscommunication interface 1212 may include the BB processor 1213 and theRF circuit 1214 for each wireless communication scheme.

Each of the antenna switches 1215 switches connection destinations ofthe antennas 1216 among multiple circuits (such as circuits fordifferent wireless communication schemes) included in the wirelesscommunication interface 1212.

Each of the antennas 1216 includes a single or multiple antenna elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and isused for the wireless communication interface 1212 to transmit andreceive wireless signals. As shown in FIG. 16, the smartphone 1200 mayinclude the multiple antennas 1216. Although FIG. 16 shows the examplein which the smartphone 1200 includes the multiple antennas 1216, thesmartphone 1200 may also include a single antenna 1216.

Furthermore, the smartphone 1200 may include the antenna 1216 for eachwireless communication scheme. In that case, the antenna switches 1215may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone 1200.

The bus 1217 connects the processor 1201, the memory 1202, the storage1203, the external connection interface 1204, the camera 1206, thesensor 1207, the microphone 1208, the input device 1209, the displaydevice 1210, the speaker 1211, the wireless communication interface1212, and the auxiliary controller 1219 to each other. The battery 1218supplies power to blocks of the smartphone 1200 shown in FIG. 16 viafeeder lines, which are partially shown as dashed lines in the FIG. 16.The auxiliary controller 1219 operates a minimum necessary function ofthe smartphone 1200, for example, in a sleep mode.

In the smartphone 1200 shown in FIG. 16, the processing circuit 810described with reference to FIG. 10 and the energy detecting unit 811thereof may be implemented by the processer 1201 or the auxiliarycontroller 1219, and the communicating unit 820 described with referenceto FIG. 10 may be implemented by the wireless communication interface1212. At least a part of the functions may also be implemented by theprocessor 1201 or the auxiliary controller 1219. For example, theprocessor 1201 or the auxiliary controller 1219 can implement thefunctions by executing instructions stored in the memory 1202 or thestorage 1203.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematicconfiguration of a car navigation apparatus 1320 to which the technologyof the present disclosure may be applied. The car navigation apparatus1320 includes a processor 1321, a memory 1322, a global positioningsystem (GPS) module 1324, a sensor 1325, a data interface 1326, acontent player 1327, a storage medium interface 1328, an input device1329, a display device 1330, a speaker 1331, a wireless communicationinterface 1333, one or more antenna switches 1336, one or more antennas1337, and a battery 1338.

The processor 1321 may be, for example, a CPU or a SoC, and controls anavigation function and another function of the car navigation apparatus1320. The memory 1322 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a programexecuted by the processor 1321, and data.

The GPS module 1324 uses GPS signals received from a GPS satellite todetermine a position (such as latitude, longitude, and altitude) of thecar navigation apparatus 1320. The sensor 1325 may include a group ofsensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an air pressuresensor. The data interface 1326 is connected to, for example, anin-vehicle network 1341 via a terminal that is not shown, and acquiresdata (such as vehicle speed data) generated by the vehicle.

The content player 1327 reproduces content stored in a storage medium(such as a CD and a DVD) that is inserted into the storage mediuminterface 1328. The input device 1329 includes, for example, a touchsensor configured to detect touch onto a screen of the display device1330, a button or a switch, and receives an operation or an informationinputted from a user. The display device 1330 includes a screen such asa LCD or an OLED display, and displays an image of the navigationfunction or content that is reproduced. The speaker 1331 outputs soundsof the navigation function or the content that is reproduced.

The wireless communication interface 1333 supports any cellularcommunication scheme (such as LTE and LTE-Advanced), and performswireless communication. The wireless communication interface 1333 maytypically include, for example, a BB processor 1334 and an RF circuit1335. The BB processor 1334 may perform, for example, encoding/decoding,modulating/demodulating, and multiplexing/demultiplexing, and performsvarious types of signal processing for wireless communication.Meanwhile, the RF circuit 1335 may include, for example, a mixer, afilter, and an amplifier, and transmits and receives wireless signalsvia the antenna 1337. The wireless communication interface 1333 may alsobe a one chip module that has the BB processor 1334 and the RF circuit1335 integrated thereon. As shown in FIG. 17, the wireless communicationinterface 1333 may include the multiple BB processors 1334 and themultiple RF circuits 1335. Although FIG. 17 shows the example in whichthe wireless communication interface 1333 includes the multiple BBprocessors 1334 and the multiple RF circuits 1335, the wirelesscommunication interface 1333 may also include a single BB processor 1334or a single RF circuit 1335.

Furthermore, in addition to the cellular communication scheme, thewireless communication interface 1333 may support another type ofwireless communication scheme such as a short-distance wirelesscommunication scheme, a near field communication scheme, and a wirelessLAN scheme. In that case, the wireless communication interface 1333 mayinclude the BB processor 1334 and the RF circuit 1335 for each wirelesscommunication scheme.

Each of the antenna switches 1336 switches connection destinations ofthe antennas 1337 among multiple circuits (such as circuits fordifferent wireless communication schemes) included in the wirelesscommunication interface 1333.

Each of the antennas 1337 includes a single or multiple antenna elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and isused for the wireless communication interface 1333 to transmit andreceive wireless signals. As shown in FIG. 17, the car navigationapparatus 1320 may include the multiple antennas 1337. Although FIG. 17shows the example in which the car navigation apparatus 1320 includesthe multiple antennas 1337, the car navigation apparatus 1320 may alsoinclude a single antenna 1337.

Furthermore, the car navigation apparatus 1320 may include the antenna1337 for each wireless communication scheme. In that case, the antennaswitches 1336 may be omitted from the configuration of the carnavigation apparatus 1320.

The battery 1338 supplies power to blocks of the car navigationapparatus 1320 shown in FIG. 17 via feeder lines that are partiallyshown as dashed lines in the FIG. 17. The battery 1338 accumulates powersupplied form the vehicle.

In the car navigation apparatus 1320 shown in FIG. 15, the processingcircuit 810 described with reference to FIG. 10 and the energy detectingunit 811 thereof may be implemented by the processer 1321, and thecommunicating unit 820 described with reference to FIG. 10 may beimplemented by the wireless communication interface 1333. At least apart of the functions may also be implemented by the processor 1321. Forexample, the processor 1321 can implement the functions by executinginstructions stored in the memory 1322.

The technology of the present disclosure may also be implemented as anin-vehicle system (or a vehicle) 1340 including one or more blocks ofthe car navigation apparatus 1320, the in-vehicle network 1341 and avehicle module 1342. The vehicle module 1342 generates vehicle data(such as a vehicle speed, an engine speed or failure information), andoutputs the generated data to the in-vehicle network 1341.

In the system and method according to the present disclosure, therespective components or steps can be decomposed and/or recombined.These decompositions and/or recombination shall be regarded asequivalent solutions of the present disclosure. Moreover, steps forexecuting the above series of processing can naturally be executedchronologically in the sequence as described above, but is not limitedthereto, and some of the steps can be performed in parallel orindividually.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove in detail in connection with the drawings, it shall be appreciatedthat the embodiments as described above are merely illustrative ratherthan limitative for the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art canmake various modifications and variations to the above embodimentswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined merely by theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. An electronic device in a wireless communication system comprising:circuitry configured to configure, for each of a plurality of userequipment (UEs), at least one second cell operating in an unlicensedfrequency band, for carrier aggregation communication, the wirelesscommunication system comprising at least one first cell operating in alicensed frequency band and one or more second cells operating in theunlicensed frequency band; generate dynamically or semi-staticallyenergy detection threshold information for each of the at least onesecond cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band on a basis of UE,in order to perform energy detection on the unlicensed frequency bandbased on the energy detection threshold information by at least one ofthe plurality of UEs, the at least one of the plurality of UEs setting aenergy detection threshold to be less than a first value and to begreater than a second value on a basis of UE in accordance with aparameter provided by a high-layer in association with the energydetection threshold information; and in response to an energy detectionreport from the at least one of the plurality of UEs, determine whetherto perform transmission using the second cell operating in theunlicensed frequency band.
 2. The electronic device according to claim1, wherein the circuitry is configured to add the energy detectionthreshold information into radio resource control RRC signaling andnotifies the at least one of the plurality of UEs.
 3. The electronicdevice according to claim 1, wherein the energy detection thresholdinformation comprises an energy detection threshold indication for thesecond cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band, and beforegenerating the energy detection threshold information, the circuitry isfurther configured to: contain a plurality of candidate energy detectionthresholds into dedicated signaling and notify the at least one of theplurality of UEs.
 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, whereinthe circuitry is configured to generate the energy detection thresholdinformation based on traffic load and/or a channel idle probability ofthe unlicensed frequency band.
 5. The electronic device according toclaim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to generatehigh-layer signaling containing configuration information on an energydetection report for the at least one of the plurality of UEs, and theconfiguration information on the energy detection report comprises areport parameter related to at least one of a periodic energy detectionreport and a non-periodic energy detection report.
 6. The electronicdevice according to claim 5, wherein the configuration information onthe energy detection report comprises a period of the periodic energydetection report and/or a triggering condition for the non-periodicenergy detection report.
 7. The electronic device according to claim 6,wherein the period of the periodic energy detection report and/or thetriggering condition for the non-periodic energy detection reportcomprises timing threshold configurations of one or more timers.
 8. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry, inresponse to an energy detection report from the at least one of theplurality of UEs, adjusts the energy detection threshold information, inorder to perform energy detection on the unlicensed frequency band basedon the adjusted energy detection threshold information by the at leastone of the plurality of UEs.
 9. The electronic device according to claim1, wherein the electronic device is a base station, and furthercomprises a transceiver configured to transmit the energy detectionthreshold information via an air interface.
 10. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmitthe energy detection threshold information via the first cell.
 11. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of the otherinterference system is a WiFi system.
 12. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the energy detection threshold for the atleast one second cell is set based on a priority of the plurality ofUEs.
 13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the firstvalue is adjusted by the at least one of the plurality of UEs based onabsence or presence of any other interference system, and the secondvalue is related to a preset dB value.
 14. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the second value is used to determinepresence of the WiFi system as the other interference system.
 15. Theelectronic device according to claim 14, wherein a first energydetection threshold which is to be set for the at least one second cellof a first UE of the plurality of UEs is greater than a second energydetection threshold which is to be set for the at least one second cellcorresponding to a second UE of the plurality of UEs, when the priorityof the first UE is higher than the priority of the second UE.
 16. Amethod for controlling an electronic device, comprising: configuring,for each of a plurality of user equipment (UEs), at least one secondcell operating in an unlicensed frequency band, for carrier aggregationcommunication, the electronic device being included in a wirelesscommunication system which comprises at least one first cell operatingin a licensed frequency band and one or more second cells operating inthe unlicensed frequency band; generating dynamically or semi-staticallyenergy detection threshold information for each of the at least onesecond cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band on a basis of UE,in order to perform energy detection on the unlicensed frequency bandbased on the energy detection threshold information by at least one ofthe plurality of UEs, the at least one of the plurality of UEs setting aenergy detection threshold to be less than a first value and to begreater than a second value on a basis of UE in accordance with aparameter provided by a high-layer in association with the energydetection threshold information; and in response to an energy detectionreport from the at least one of the plurality of UEs, determiningwhether to perform transmission using the second cell operating in theunlicensed frequency band.
 17. A non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving stored thereon a program that when executed by processingcircuitry of an electronic device causes the electronic device toimplement an information processing method comprising: configuring, foreach of a plurality of user equipment (UEs), at least one second celloperating in an unlicensed frequency band, for carrier aggregationcommunication, the electronic device being included in a wirelesscommunication system which comprises at least one first cell operatingin a licensed frequency band and one or more second cells operating inthe unlicensed frequency band; generating dynamically or semi-staticallyenergy detection threshold information for each of the at least onesecond cell operating in the unlicensed frequency band on a basis of UE,in order to perform energy detection on the unlicensed frequency bandbased on the energy detection threshold information by at least one ofthe plurality of UEs, the at least one of the plurality of UEs setting aenergy detection threshold to be less than a first value and to begreater than a second value on a basis of UE in accordance with aparameter provided by a high-layer in association with the energydetection threshold information; and in response to an energy detectionreport from the at least one of the plurality of UEs, determiningwhether to perform transmission using the second cell operating in theunlicensed frequency band.
 18. The non-transitory computer readablemedium according to claim 17, wherein the energy detection threshold forthe at least one second cell is set based on a priority of the pluralityof UEs.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according toclaim 18, wherein the first value is adjusted by the at least one of theplurality of UEs based on absence or presence of any other interferencesystem, and the second value is related to a preset dB value.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 19, whereinthe energy detection threshold information is adjusted to be less than afirst value and to be greater than a second value on a basis of UE, inaccordance with determination whether each of the plurality of UEs isconfigured with a parameter related to energy detection threshold, theparameter being provided by a high-layer, and the first value beingassociated with absence or presence of any other interference system,and the second value being a preset dB value.